Phase-selective growth of assembled FeSe₂ nanorods from organometallic polymers and their surface magnetism

By an organometallic approach based on 1,2,3-triselena[3]ferrocenophane, assembled FeSe₂ nanorods were phase-selectively prepared. Abstraction of the central selenium from 1,2,3-triselena[3]ferrocenophane by reaction with triphenylphosphite resulted in organometallic polymers through Se-Se bond formation. Successive heating of the polymers in the presence of oleylamine resulted in formation of the assembled FeSe₂ nanorods, which were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Interestingly, the obtained FeSe ₂ nanorods underwent air oxidation readily to form a magnetic coating on the surface. These observations are suggestive toward preparation of magnetically coated core/shell type semiconductor nanomaterials.